K.W. v. Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania Department Of Public Welfare

Juvenile Law Center’s amicus brief supported a 12-year-old boy's petition to remove his name from a statewide registry as a "perpetrator" of child abuse. The registration was based on the premise that a one-time indecent assault and exposure incident made him a dangerous criminal who would forever represent a risk to the safety of vulnerable children. Importantly, the juvenile had no delinquent charges brought against him and was not required to register as a sex offender, only as a perpetrator of child abuse. Additionally, social science research reveals that juvenile sex offenders are less likely to commit a crime in the future than adult sex offenders. Unless removed, the youth’s name would have remained on the registry indefinitely, preventing him from working in any field involving children.

The case was settled out of court, and the youth’s record was expunged.